Interrupter for warning signals



Oct. 20, 1931. R. F. MACK 1,828,608

INTERRUPTER FOR WARNING SIGNALS Filed March 12, 1930 n- I I IlI/IIIII/IIIIIIIIA INVENTOR BY ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 20, leer RICHARD r. MACK, or hs'ronia, max

inrnnnurrnn non WARNING SIGNALS a Application filed March 12, ieeo. Serial 1%. 435,285. f

This invention relates to signalingdevices,

and broadly comprehends an attachment for the same which interrupts the sound or light emitted from the device in order to'change 5 the character'of the sound or light andpro-' duce a more distinctive and attractive signal.

7 The invention more particularly refers to. an attachment for automobile horns or warning signals, by virtue of which interruptions in the sound emitted produces a warning signal which more effectually attracts the attention of pedestrians or drivers of other Vehicles. V I

The invention further aims to provide an interrupter for sound propagating or light propagating devices which is in the nature of an accessory or attachment and which may be readily associated with or removed from these devices without necessitating alteration of the same or the employment of special tools or the services of a mechanic; r

Theinvention further aims to provide a signal interrupter, thespeed'of which may be regulated to vary the character of the signal produced. i

Other objects reside in the comparative:

simplicity of construction and mode of operation of the device and the economy with which it may be produced and installed.

With the above recitedian'd other objects in view, reference is had-to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which there is exhibited one example or embodiment of theinvention, while the claims define the actual scope of the same.

In the drawingsz Figure 1 is a perspective view of the interrupter in applied opera-ting position on an automobile horn. Figure 2 is a sectional view through the interrupter applied to a horn.

Figure 3 is a rear view thereof.

\ Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, A designates a sound propagating device herein illustratedas a horn-defininga vibratory air column andforined witlran. outlet end B. The interrupter constituting the subject matter of the presentinvention consists ofa'frame 5 which conforms gen erally to the configuration of the outlet end I ent from the signals which are ordinarily prothe: frame 'being providediwith' an inwardly H projecting inner marginal flangeor head 6 I which snugly fits'withintheoutletend'B of I I theinstrument or device and which may be '55 retained in-place in any suitable manner, such as by meansof spring fingers 7 which snap .over theexternalbead G of the outlet end B. Theframe 5 has'mounted therein formov'eincnt ashu ter 8 which is designed to alter.- natelyopen and close the outlet end Bof the device A to interrupt thepropagationof the vibrations of the air column whereby to produce distinctive and "attractive signals diifer- I as duced by the device A. (By way of illustra tion, the shutter 8: is disclosed as being rota-J5 tively mounted,withinthe frame 5 on a shaft 9 which is journale'dfor-rotation in diametrih F Q thereto as-at 12,"is employed, but, as illus- :trated, this'meansis in the nature'ofa wind Fwheell3 having b-ladesor vanes 14, and which wind wheel is secured to the shaft 9; When mounted on the horn ofa vehicle in motion, it is obvious thatthe forward motion of the vehiclelwillcause the wind wheel toturn,

thereby rotating the shaft 9 and shutter 8.

8O When'the horn or device A is sounded, the. rotation of the shutter in'the'outlet end 13 thereof will interrupt" the propagation-of the vibrations of the air 'co'l'umn and, hence, produce distinctive andlattractive signals. In 3 1 practice, theframefi will preferably be of: annular formation, and by shiftingthe frame fcircumferentially on the outletend B of the" hornjA, the speed and rotation of-the wind I wheel may be controlled in accordance with 'thedesires of the user, sothatnthe'interrupr.

'tions may be retarded or'advan'ce'd to vary p the character ofthe sounds-emitted. It is, ofl'course, to be understood that. while the a interrupter is disclosed" as applied to'an elf-' 9" terior horn orsignal A, it equallywell adapted for those that are arranged under the hood of the vehicle, as the draft from the fan will operate the wind wheel. It is also to beunderstood within the scope or the illu ventionthat the shutter 8 may be operated by other mechanisms which are equivalent of the wind wheel, and that the shutter may be either rotated, reciprocated or otherwise moved to and from an open and closed relation to the outlet B to accomplish the purpose of the invention. It is to be further understood that Within the scope of the invenment within the frame.

tion the interrupter may be applied to a light aroducin and )ro'ectin' device to interrupt and change the character of the light rays.

Vhat is claimed is:

1. The combination with an audible signaling device including a horn of the vibratory .air columntype for producing a signal,

of means movably mounted in the born outlet for interrupting the propagation of the vibrations of the aircolumn to vary the qual V ity and character of thesound emitted.

2. The combinationwith an audible 51gnaling device including a horn of the vibratory air column t'ype'for producing a signal, of means movably mounted in the horn outlet for, interrupting the propagation of the vibrations of the air column to vary the quality and character of the sound emitted, said means including a frame member connected Wit-hthe outlet end of the horn and framing theout-let and ashutter mounted for move- '3. The combination Withv an audible signaling device including a horn of the vibratory air column type for producing asignal,

of means movably mountedin the horn outlet for interrupting the propagation of the vibrations of the air column to vary the qual- .of March, A. D.

ay and character of the sound emitted, said means including a frame member connected wlth the outlet end-ofthe horn and framing the outlet and a shutterrotatably mounted for movement within the frame.

. 4. They comb nation with an audlble signahng devlceincluding a horn of the vibratory alr column type for produclng a signal, of'means'movably mounted in the horn outlet for interrupting the propagation of the v1- b-rations of the air column to vary the quality and character of the sound emltted, sa d means includlng a frame member connected with the outlet endof the horn and framing the outlet, a'shutter rotatably mounted for movement within the frameand-a wind wheel connected with the shutter for eifecting rotation. r Signed at New York in the county ofNew York and State of New York this 10th day r 1 RICHARD F. MACK. 

